“It’s easy for me” - Three-division world champ Anatoly Malykhin says he’ll defend any of his world titles at a moment’s notice
Three-division MMA world champion Anatoly Malykhin is ready to defend his gold no matter what.
The reigning ONE middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight MMA world champion said he just needs a moment's notice to prepare for whatever world title defense ONE Championship tells him to do next.
In an interview with the promotion, Malykhin said he doesn't have any problems making weight for either of the divisions he rules over.
Just as long as he has an opponent lined up, the Russian superstar will sign the dotted line for that world title fight.
"Why is it difficult? It's easy for me, I'm not getting too big, I'm 105 kilograms right now and I'm ready for any challenge. As soon as ONE Championship lets me know, I'll be ready to fight at 93kg, 102kg, at heavyweight, it doesn't matter," said Anatoly Malykhin.
Malykhin is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet today, and his three world titles are solid proof of that sentiment.
'Sladkiy' entered the calendar year as the ONE light heavyweight and heavyweight MMA world champion, but he did the unthinkable when he dropped down to middleweight for ONE 166.
Facing old foe Reinier de Ridder in Qatar, Malykhin showed monstrous power and deceptive speed to knock the Dutch athlete and add the ONE middleweight MMA world title to his collection.
Anatoly Malykhin says no heavyweight contender is at his level
Confidence is practically a requirement for any fighter, and Anatoly Malykhin has boatloads of it.
Malykhin is as dangerous with his threats as he is with his punches, and he believes there is no heavyweight contender who could match up with him.
In the same interview with ONE Championship, 'Sladkiy' said every heavyweight contender he'd face would be easy work for him.
"For me, they are very straightforward fighters. I understand their game, and I can easily deal with them," said Malykhin.